Berlin government

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received German ambassadors to the region and officials of the Berlin government, including special Western Balkans envoy Manuel Sarrazin, in Belgrade on Friday.

Claims that Bulgarian and Romanian 'economic refugees' are abusing the German child welfare system by claiming benefits for children who live outside the country have attracted criticism from the Romanian Foreign Ministry.

Soren Link, the mayor of the western German city of Duisburg, accused the Berlin government of "sleeping through the problem".

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has sent a text message to Germany's Social Democratic leader Martin Schulz urging him to join a grand coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives.

In an interview with local media, the SPD chief said that Greece's leftist prime minister had urged him not to let "this deciding phase in Europe go to pass."

Germany to back chapter opening "when conditions are met"

BERLIN -- The German government welcomed the progress Serbia made, country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement given to Tanjug over the weekend.

It noted at the same time that Berlin "will back the opening of negotiating chapters as soon as the conditions set by the EU are fulfilled."

Berlin to back chapter opening upon fulfilment of conditions
BERLIN - The German government welcomed the progress Serbia made and noted that Berlin will back the opening of negotiating chapters as soon as the conditions set by the EU are fulfilled, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin stated in a release submitted to Tanjug.

BERLIN - Serbian Minister without portfolio in charge of European integration Jadranka Joksimovic continued her official visit to Berlin on Tuesday by a working breakfast with Undersecretary of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs Michael Roth.